Semiconductor device structure with fine patterns forming varied height spacer and method for forming the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device structure with fine patterns and a method for preparing the semiconductor device structure for preventing the collapse of the fine patterns. The semiconductor device structure includes a first inner spacer element disposed over a top surface of a semiconductor substrate. The first inner spacer element includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion. A height of the first portion and a height of the second portion are less than a height of the third portion, and a width of the first portion increases continuously as the first portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first outer spacer element disposed over the second portion of the first inner spacer element.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a semiconductor device structure with fine patterns and a method for forming the same, and more particularly, to a method for preventing the collapse of the fine patterns.

DISCUSSION OF THE BACKGROUND

As semiconductor device structures become smaller and more highly integrated, a number of technologies for fabricating fine patterns for semiconductor device structures have been developed. Particularly, photolithography processes are typically used to fabricate electronic and optoelectronic devices on a substrate, and photoresist patterns prepared by the photolithography processes are used as masks in etching or ion implantation processes. As the required pitch size and critical dimension (CD) continue to shrink, the fineness of the photoresist patterns becomes a very important factor in determining the degree of integration. However, photolithographic processes for fabricating semiconductor features have presented a limitation in the increase of resolution of the exposure apparatus.

Although existing semiconductor device structures with fine patterns and methods for manufacturing the same have been adequate for their intended purposes, they have not been entirely satisfactory in all respects. Therefore, to date, there are still some problems to be overcome in regards to the technologies of forming semiconductor device structures with fine patterns using photolithography processes.

This Discussion of the Background section is provided for background information only. The statements in this Discussion of the Background are not an admission that the subject matter disclosed in this section constitutes prior art to the present disclosure, and no part of this Discussion of the Background section may be used as an admission that any part of this application, including this Discussion of the Background section, constitutes prior art to the present disclosure.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first inner spacer element disposed over a top surface of a semiconductor substrate. The first inner spacer element includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion. A height of the first portion and a height of the second portion are less than a height of the third portion, and a width of the first portion increases continuously as the first portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first outer spacer element disposed over the second portion of the first inner spacer element.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the first inner spacer element includes a first side adjoining a lower portion of a first sidewall surface of the third portion, a second side adjoining the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an exterior surface connected to the first side and the second side. The exterior surface has a convex shape. In some embodiments, the first outer spacer element adjoins a second sidewall surface of the third portion, and the first outer spacer element is separated from the top surface of the semiconductor substrate by the second portion. In some embodiments, the first inner spacer element is a stress-extension film, and the first outer spacer element is a stress-compression film. In some embodiments, the first inner spacer element is a stress-compression film, and the first outer spacer element is a stress-extension film. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a second inner spacer element and a second outer spacer element. The second inner spacer element is disposed over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the second inner spacer element includes a fourth portion, a fifth portion, and a sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion. A width of the fourth portion increases continuously as the fourth portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the fourth portion is between the sixth portion and the first portion of the first inner spacer element. The second outer spacer element is disposed over the fifth portion of the second inner spacer element. In some embodiments, the fourth portion of the second inner spacer element is separated from the first portion of the first inner spacer element.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a target layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate, and a first target structure disposed over the target layer. The first target structure incudes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion connected to the first portion and the second portion. A height of the first portion and a height of the second portion are greater than a height of the third portion. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first spacer element disposed over the first portion of the first target structure, and a second spacer element disposed over the second portion of the first target structure.

In some embodiments, the first target structure and the target layer are made of the same material, and the first spacer element and the second spacer element are made of the same material. In some embodiments, a topmost point of the first spacer element is between a central line of the first portion and a central line of the second portion in a cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, a topmost point of the second spacer element is between the central line of the first portion and the central line of the second portion in the cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a second target structure, a third spacer element, and a fourth spacer element. The second target structure is disposed over the target layer. The second target structure includes a fourth portion, a fifth portion, and a sixth portion connected to the fourth portion and the fifth portion, and the fourth portion, the fifth portion and the sixth portion form a U-shaped structure. The third spacer element is disposed over the fourth portion of the second target structure, and the fourth spacer element is disposed over the fifth portion of the second target structure. In some embodiments, the third spacer element is between the second spacer element and the fourth spacer element, and a topmost point of the third spacer element is between a central line of the fourth portion and a central line of the fifth portion in a cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, a first opening between the second spacer element and the third spacer element is deeper than a second opening between the first spacer element and the second spacer element. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a hard mask structure formed between the first spacer element and the first portion of the first target structure, and the hard mask structure has a high etching selectivity against the first spacer element.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first target structure and a second target structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first spacer element disposed over the first target structure, wherein a topmost point of the first spacer element is between a central line of the first target structure and a central line of the second target structure in a cross-sectional view.

In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a second spacer element disposed over the second target structure, wherein a topmost point of the second spacer element is between the central line of the first target structure and the central line of the second target structure in the cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, the first target structure has a high etching selectivity against the first spacer element. In some embodiments, the first target structure and the second target structure are made of a thermal decomposable material, a photonic decomposable material, or an e-beam decomposable material. In some embodiments, a top surface of the semiconductor substrate is exposed between the first target structure and the second target structure.

Embodiments of a semiconductor device structure and methods for forming the same are provided. The method for forming the semiconductor device structure may include undercutting a photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate, and forming an inner spacer element over a sidewall surface of the photoresist pattern. The inner spacer element has a portion extending into a recess (i.e., the undercut region) of the photoresist pattern to form a footing, and a width of the portion of the inner spacer element increases continuously as the portion extends toward the semiconductor substrate. As a result, the inner spacer element may be prevented from collapsing after removal of the photoresist pattern.

Alternatively, the method for forming the semiconductor device structure may include forming a hard mask pillar over a target material, forming a spacer over a sidewall surface of the hard mask pillar, and etching the target material and the hard mask pillar using the spacer as a mask to form a spacer element over a target structure. The spacer element may be prevented from collapsing due to support from the target structure.

Alternatively, the method for forming the semiconductor device structure may include forming an energy removable pattern over a target material, forming a spacer over a sidewall surface of the energy removable pattern, forming a dielectric layer surrounding the energy removable pattern and the spacer, and etching the energy removable pattern, the dielectric layer and the target material using the spacer as a mask to form a spacer element over a target structure. The spacer element may be prevented from collapsing due to high etching selectivity in the etching process for forming the spacer element.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description of the disclosure that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the disclosure will be described hereinafter, and form the subject of the claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures or processes for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. It should be noted that, in accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of forming a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of photoresist patterns of a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of undercutting the photoresist patterns, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of inner spacers and outer spacers, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of hard mask pillars and photoresist patterns over a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a conformal spacer material over the semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a spacer element over the semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of hard mask pillars and photoresist patterns over a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a conformal spacer material over the semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a spacer element over the semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of an energy removable pattern over a semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a conformal spacer material over the energy removable patterns, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a spacer element over the semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an intermediate stage in the formation of a dielectric layer surrounding the energy removable patterns and the spacers over semiconductor device structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows may include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed in direct contact, and may also include embodiments in which additional features may be formed between the first and second features, such that the first and second features may not be in direct contact. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.

Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The apparatus may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein may likewise be interpreted accordingly.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure 100, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, the semiconductor device structure 100 includes inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d and outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d over a top surface 101T of a semiconductor substrate 101, in accordance with some embodiments.

More specifically, the inner spacer element 115 a includes a first portion 115 a 1, a second portion 115 a 2, and a third portion 115 a 3 between the first portion 115 a 1 and the second portion 115 a 2. Similarly, the inner spacer element 115 b includes a fourth portion 115 b 1, a fifth portion 115 b 2, and a sixth portion 115 b 3 between the fourth portion 115 b 1 and the fifth portion 115 b 2.

No obvious interfaces exist between the second portion 115 a 2 and the third portion 115 a 3, and between the third portion 115 a 3 and the first portion 115 a 1. Similarly, no obvious interfaces exist between the fourth portion 115 b 1 and the sixth portion 115 b 3, and between the sixth portion 115 b 3 and the fifth portion 115 b 2. The dotted lines shown in FIG. 1 are to clarify the disclosure. In addition, for the purpose of simplicity and clarity, the sub-portions of the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d are only designated in the left half of the semiconductor device structure 100. It should be noted that the right half of the semiconductor device structure 100 may have features similar to those of the left half of the semiconductor device structure 100.

In the inner spacer element 115 a, the first portion 115 a 1 has a height H1 along the Y-direction, the second portion 115 a 2 has a height H2 along the Y-direction, and the third portion 115 a 3 has a height H3 along the Y-direction. In some embodiments, the height H3 is greater than the height H1 and the height H2. Moreover, the first portion 115 a 1 has a width along the X-direction, and the width increases continuously as the first portion 115 a 1 extends toward the top surface 101T of the semiconductor substrate 101.

It should be noted that, in the inner spacer element 115 a, the first portion 115 a 1 has a first side S1, a second side S2, and an exterior surface ES connected to the first side S1 and the second side S2. In some embodiments, the first side S of the first portion 115 a 1 adjoins a lower portion of a first sidewall surface SW1 of the third portion 115 a 3, the second side S2 of the first portion 115 a 1 adjoins the top surface 101T of the semiconductor substrate 101, and the exterior surface ES of the first portion 115 a 1 has a convex shape.

The features of the inner spacer elements 115 b, 115 c and 115 d may be similar to the abovementioned features of the inner spacer element 115 a, and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein. For example, a width of the fourth portion 115 b 1 along the X-direction increases continuously as the fourth portion 115 b 1 extends toward the top surface 101T of the semiconductor substrate 101, in accordance with some embodiments.

In addition, the outer spacer element 117 a is disposed over the second portion 115 a 2 of the inner spacer element 115 a, and the outer spacer element 117 b is disposed over the fifth portion 115 b 2 of the inner spacer element 115 b, as shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments. More specifically, the outer spacer element 117 a adjoins a second sidewall surface SW2 of the third portion 115 a 3 of the inner spacer element 115 a, and the outer spacer element 117 a is separated from the top surface 101T of the semiconductor substrate 101 by the second portion 115 a 2, in accordance with some embodiments.

The first sidewall surface SW1 and the second sidewall surface SW2 form two opposite sidewall surfaces of the third portion 115 a 3. The features of the outer spacer elements 117 b, 117 c and 117 d may be similar to the abovementioned features of the outer spacer element 117 a, and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein. Furthermore, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d are separated from each other.

In some embodiments, the inner spacer element 115 a and the inner spacer element 115 b are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line ML between the inner spacer element 115 a and the inner spacer element 115 b. In some embodiments, the outer spacer element 117 a and the outer spacer element 117 b are substantially symmetric with respect to the middle line ML. In some embodiments, the first portion 115 a 1 and the second portion 115 b 1 are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first portion and the second portion.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure 200 a, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 2, the semiconductor device structure 200 a includes a target layer 203′ disposed over a semiconductor substrate 201, and target structures 203 a and 203 b disposed over the target layer 203′, in accordance with some embodiments.

No obvious interfaces exist between the target structures 203 a and the target layer 203′, and between the target structure 203 b and the target layer 203′. The dotted lines shown in FIG. 2 are to clarify the disclosure. It should be noted that the target structures 203 a and 203 b and the target layer 203′ are made of the same material, and are formed simultaneously from the same material layer, in accordance with some embodiments.

More specifically, the target structure 203 a includes a first portion 203 a 1, a second portion 203 a 2, and a third portion 203 a 3 between the first portion 203 a 1 and the second portion 203 a 2. Similarly, the target structure 203 b includes a fourth portion 203 b 1, a fifth portion 203 b 2, and a sixth portion 203 b 3 between the fourth portion 203 b 1 and the fifth portion 203 b 2.

No obvious interfaces exist between the first portion 203 a 1 and the third portion 203 a 3, and between the third portion 203 a 3 and the second portion 203 a 2. Similarly, no obvious interfaces exist between the fourth portion 203 b 1 and the sixth portion 203 b 3, and between the sixth portion 203 b 3 and the fifth portion 203 b 2. The dotted lines shown in FIG. 2 are to clarify the disclosure.

In the target structure 203 a, the first portion 203 a 1 has a height H1 along the Y-direction, the second portion 203 a 2 has a height H2 along the Y-direction, and the third portion 203 a 3 has a height H3 along the Y-direction. In some embodiments, the first height H1 is substantially the same as the height H2, and the height H3 is greater than both the heights H1 and H2. Within the context of this disclosure, the word “substantially” means preferably at least 90%, more preferably 95%, even more preferably 98%, and most preferably 99%. In some embodiments, the first portion 203 a 1, the second portion 203 a 2 and the third portion 203 a 3 form a U-shaped structure.

The features of the target structure 203 b may be similar to the abovementioned features of the target structure 203 a and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein. For example, the fourth portion 203 b 1, the fifth portion 203 b 2 and the sixth portion 203 b 3 form another U-shaped structure, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure 200 a also includes a hard mask structure 205 a 1 disposed over the first portion 203 a 1 of the target structure 203 a, a hard mask structure 205 a 2 disposed over the second portion 203 a 2 of the target structure 203 a, a hard mask structure 205 b 1 disposed over the fourth portion 203 b 1 of the target structure 203 b, and a hard mask structure 205 b 2 disposed over the fifth portion 203 b 2 of the target structure 203 b. The hard mask structures 205 a, 205 a 2, 205 b 1 and 205 b 2 are made of the same material, and are formed simultaneously from the same material layer, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure 200 a further includes a spacer element 223 a′ disposed over the hard mask structure 205 a 1, a spacer element 223 b′ disposed over the hard mask structure 205 a 2, a spacer element 223 c′ disposed over the hard mask structure 205 b 1, and a spacer element 223 d′ disposed over the hard mask structure 205 b 2. The spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′ and 223 d′ are made of the same material, and are formed simultaneously from the same material layer, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the first portion 203 a 1 of the target structure 203 a has a central line CL1, the second portion 203 a 2 of the target structure 203 a has a central line CL2, the fourth portion 203 b 1 of the target structure 203 b has a central line CL3, and the fifth portion 203 b 2 of the target structure 203 b has a central line CL4. Moreover, the spacer element 223 a′ has a topmost point TP1, the spacer element 223 b′ has a topmost point TP2, the spacer element 223 c′ has a topmost point TP3, and the spacer element 223 d′ has a topmost point TP4.

Specifically, in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 2, the topmost point TP1 of the spacer element 223 a′ and the topmost point TP2 of the spacer element 223 b′ are between the central line CL1 and the central line CL2, and the topmost point TP3 of the spacer element 223 c′ and the topmost point TP4 of the spacer element 223 d′ are between the central line CL3 and the central line CL4, in accordance with some embodiments.

In addition, in some embodiments, openings 270 are disposed over the target structures 203 a and 203 b, and openings 240 are formed between adjacent target structures (e.g., between the target structures 203 a and 203 b). In some embodiments, the spacer elements 223 a′ and 223 b′ are separated by one of the openings 270, the spacer elements 223 c′ and 223 d′ are separated by the other opening 270, and the spacer elements 223 b′ and 223 c′ are separated by one of the openings 240. It should be noted that the openings 240 are deeper than the openings 270 (i.e., extending to a lower level in the Y-direction), in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure 200 b, which is an alternative embodiment of the semiconductor device structure 200 a, in accordance with some embodiments. For consistency and clarity, similar components appearing in both FIGS. 2 and 3 are labeled the same. One difference between the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is that the hard mask structures 205 a 1, 205 a 2, 205 b 1 and 205 b 2 are not formed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a semiconductor device structure 300, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown in FIG. 4, the semiconductor device structure 300 includes target structures 303 a, 303 b, 303 c and 303 d disposed over a semiconductor substrate 301, and spacer elements 307 a′, 307 b′, 307 c′ and 307 d′ disposed over the target structures 303 a, 303 b, 303 c and 303 d, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the spacer element 307 a′ is disposed over the target structure 303 a, the spacer element 307 b′ is disposed over the target structure 303 b, the spacer element 307 c′ is disposed over the target structure 303 c, and the spacer element 307 d′ is disposed over the target structure 303 d. Moreover, in some embodiments, each adjacent pair of the spacer elements 307 a′, 307 b′, 307 c′ and 307 d′ is separated by an opening 310. In some embodiments, each adjacent pair of the adjacent target structures 303 a, 303 b, 303 c and 303 d is separated by one of the openings 310 such that a top surface 301T of the semiconductor substrate 301 is exposed in the opening 310.

As shown in FIG. 4, the target structure 303 a has a central line CL1, the target structure 303 b has a central line CL2, the target structure 303 c has a central line CL3, and the target structure 303 d has a central line CL4. Moreover, the spacer element 307 a′ has a topmost point TP1, the spacer element 307 b′ has a topmost point TP2, the spacer element 307 c′ has a topmost point TP3, and the spacer element 307 d′ has a topmost point TP4.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the topmost point TP1 of the spacer element 307 a′ and the topmost point TP2 of the spacer element 307 b′ are between the central line CL1 and the central line CL2, and the topmost point TP3 of the spacer element 307 c′ and the topmost point TP4 of the spacer element 307 d′ are between the central line CL3 and the central line CL4, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 10 of forming the semiconductor device structure 100, wherein the method 10 includes steps S11, S13, S15, S17 and S19, in accordance with some embodiments. The steps S11 to S19 of FIG. 5 are elaborated in connection with FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 1, which are cross-sectional views illustrating sequential intermediate stages in the formation of the semiconductor device structure 100, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 8, the semiconductor substrate 101 is provided. The semiconductor substrate 101 may be a portion of an integrated circuit (IC) chip that includes various passive and active microelectronic devices, such as resistors, capacitors, inductors, diodes, p-type field-effect transistors (pFETs), n-type field-effect transistors (nFETs), metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors (MOSFETs), complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, bipolar junction transistors (BJTs), laterally-diffused MOS (LDMOS) transistors, high-voltage transistors, high-frequency transistors, fin field-effect transistors (FinFETs), other suitable IC components, or combinations thereof.

Depending on the IC fabrication stage, the semiconductor substrate 101 may include various material layers (e.g., dielectric layers, semiconductor layers, and/or conductive layers) configured to form IC features (e.g., doped regions, isolation features, gate features, source/drain features, interconnect features, other features, or combinations thereof). The semiconductor substrate 101 has been simplified for the sake of clarity. It should be noted that additional features can be added in the semiconductor substrate 101, and some of the features described below can be replaced, modified, or eliminated in other embodiments.

In some embodiments, photoresist patterns 103 are disposed over the top surface 10T of the semiconductor substrate 101. The respective step is illustrated as the step S11 in the method 10 shown in FIG. 5. In some embodiments, the photoresist patterns 103 may be formed by a deposition process and a patterning process.

The deposition process for forming the photoresist patterns 103 may include a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process, a high-density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process, a spin-on process, or another suitable process. The patterning process for forming the photoresist patterns 103 may include a photolithography process. The photolithography process may include photoresist coating (e.g., spin-on coating), soft baking, mask aligning, exposure, post-exposure baking, developing the photoresist, rinsing and drying (e.g., hard baking).

Next, a wet etching process is performed on the photoresist patterns 103, as shown in FIG. 9 in accordance with some embodiments. It should be noted that the wet etching process undercuts the upper portions 103 b of the etched photoresist patterns 103′ and forms undercut portions 110 within the lower portions 103 a of the etched photoresist patterns 103′, in accordance with some embodiments. The respective step is illustrated as the step S13 in the method 10 shown in FIG. 5.

After the wet etching process, inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d are disposed over sidewall surfaces of the etched photoresist patterns 103′, and outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d are disposed over the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d, as shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective step is illustrated as the steps S15 and S17 in the method 10 shown in FIG. 5.

In some embodiments, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d and the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d are made of dielectric materials, such as silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, one or more suitable dielectric materials, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d are stress-extension films, and the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d are stress-compression films. In some other embodiments, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d are stress-compression films, and the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d are stress-extension films.

In some embodiments, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d are formed by a deposition process and an etching process. For example, an inner spacer material (not shown) may be conformally deposited over the top surfaces and the sidewall surfaces of the etched photoresist patterns 103′ and the top surface 101T of the semiconductor substrate 101, and a portion of the inner spacer material may be deposited into the undercut portions 110 (see FIG. 9). Next, the inner spacer material is partially removed by an etching process, leaving the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d, as shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the etching process includes a dry etching process.

Next, the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d are formed by a deposition process and an etching process. For example, an outer spacer material (not shown) may be conformally deposited over the top surfaces of the etched photoresist patterns 103′, the top surfaces and the sidewall surfaces of the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c, 115 d, and the top surface 101T of the semiconductor substrate 101. Next, the outer spacer material is partially removed by an etching process, leaving the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d, as shown in FIG. 10 in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the etching process includes a dry etching process.

As mentioned above, the inner spacer element 115 a includes the first portion 115 a 1, the second portion 115 a 2 and the third portion 115 a 3, and the inner spacer element 115 b includes the fourth portion 115 b 1, the fifth portion 115 b 2 and the sixth portion 115 b 3. In some embodiments, the first portion 115 a 1 and the fourth portion 115 b 1 are covered by the upper portion 103 b of the etched photoresist pattern 103′, and the second portion 115 a 2 and the fifth portion 115 b 2 are covered by the outer spacer elements 117 a and 117 b, respectively.

In some embodiments, the interface between the first portion 115 a 1 and the etched photoresist pattern 103′ has a convex profile facing the etched photoresist pattern 103′, and the first portion 115 a 1 is enclosed by the third portion 115 a 3, the etched photoresist pattern 103′ and the semiconductor substrate 101. Similarly, in some embodiments, the interface between the fourth portion 115 b 1 and the etched photoresist pattern 103′ has a convex profile facing the etched photoresist pattern 103′, and the fourth portion 115 b 1 is enclosed by the sixth portion 115 b 3, the etched photoresist pattern 103′ and the semiconductor substrate 101. It should be noted that the right half of the structure may have features similar to those of the left half of the structure.

After the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c, 117 d are formed, the etched photoresist patterns 103′ are removed, as shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective step is illustrated as the step S19 in the method 10 shown in FIG. 5. The etched photoresist patterns 103′ may be removed by an etching process, such as a dry etching process, a wet etching process, or a combination thereof. After the etched photoresist patterns 103′ are removed, openings 150 are obtained, and the first portion 115 a 1 and the fourth portion 115 b 1 are exposed by one of the openings 150. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure 100 includes a film structure (not shown in the drawings) over the semiconductor substrate 101. In some embodiments, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d are formed over the film structure, serving as hard mask of fine patterns, which can be used in the subsequent fabrication process for patterning corresponding fine patterns in the film structure.

Since the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d have portions extending into the undercut portions 110 (see FIG. 9) to form footings, the base width (along the X-direction) of each of the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d is increased. As a result, the inner spacer elements 115 a, 115 b, 115 c and 115 d may be prevented from collapsing during the subsequent fabrication process, serving as hard mask for patterning the film structure, even the etched photoresist pattern 103′ is removed. Moreover, the formation of the outer spacer elements 117 a, 117 b, 117 c and 117 d may help the semiconductor device structure 100 to better resist the harmful effects of subsequent etching process, such as a dry etching process.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 20 of forming a semiconductor device structure (e.g., the semiconductor device structure 200 a or 200 b), wherein the method 20 includes steps S21, S23, S25, S27 and S29, in accordance with some embodiments.

In accordance with some embodiments, the steps S21 to S29 of FIG. 6 are elaborated in connection with FIGS. 11, 12, 13 and 2, which are cross-sectional views illustrating sequential intermediate stages in the formation of the semiconductor device structure 200 a. In accordance with some other embodiments, the steps S21 to S29 of FIG. 6 are elaborated in connection with FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 3, which are cross-sectional views illustrating sequential intermediate stages in the formation of the semiconductor device structure 200 b.

As shown in FIG. 11, the semiconductor substrate 201 is provided, and a target material 203 is disposed over the semiconductor substrate 201. The respective step is illustrated as the step S21 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6. The details of the semiconductor substrate 201 may be similar to or the same as the details of the semiconductor substrate 101, and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein.

In some embodiments, the target material 203 is a dielectric layer. For example, the target material 203 is made of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, another suitable dielectric material, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the target material 203 includes an interconnect structure, which has one or more metallization layers (e.g., copper layers) formed in the target material 203, and the interconnect structure is used to connect various electrical components to form functional circuitry. In some embodiments, the target material 203 is formed by any suitable process, such as deposition, damascene, and/or dual damascene.

Still referring to FIG. 11, a hard mask layer 205 is disposed over the target material 203 and hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b are disposed over the hard mask layer 205 by an etching process using photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b as a mask, in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the hard mask layer 205 and the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b are made of dielectric materials, such as silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, one or more suitable materials, or a combination thereof.

Specifically, the hard mask layer 205 and the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b are formed by a deposition process and an etching process, in accordance with some embodiments. For example, a hard mask material (not shown) may be conformally deposited over the top surface of the target layer 203, and the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b are disposed over the hard mask material. Some processes used to form the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b are similar to, or the same as, those used to form the photoresist patterns 103 and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein. After the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b are formed, portions of the hard mask material exposed by the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b are removed by a dry etching process to form openings 210 between adjacent hard mask pillars (e.g., the hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b), as shown in FIG. 11. The respective steps are illustrated as the steps S23 and S25 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6.

It should be noted that the target material 203 is not exposed by the openings 210, in accordance with some embodiments. Moreover, the hard mask layer 205 and the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b are made of the same material and are formed simultaneously, in accordance with some embodiments. After the openings 210 are obtained, the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b may be removed.

After the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b are removed, a spacer material 213 is conformally deposited over the top surfaces and the sidewall surfaces of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b and the top surface of the hard mask layer 205, such that reduced openings 220 are obtained, as shown in FIG. 12 in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the spacer material 213 is made of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, another suitable material, or a combination thereof, and the deposition process for forming the spacer material 213 includes a CVD process, a physical vapor deposition (PVD) process, an atomic layer deposition (ALD) process, a spin-on process, or another suitable process. In some embodiments, the material of the spacer material 213 is different from the material of the hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b. It should be noted that the material of the hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b has a high etching selectivity against the material of the spacer material 213.

Next, the spacer material 213 is etched to form spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d over sidewall surfaces of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b, as shown in FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S27 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the etching process is an anisotropic etching process, which removes the same amount of the spacer material 213 vertically in all places, leaving the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d over the sidewall surfaces of the hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b. In some embodiments, the etching process is a dry etching process.

Moreover, portions of the hard mask layer 205 between the hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b are removed to form hard mask portions 205 a and 205 b, and openings 230 are obtained between adjacent hard mask portions (e.g., hard mask portions 205 a and 205 b), as shown in FIG. 13 in accordance with some embodiments. In some embodiments, the target material 203 is exposed by the openings 230. In some embodiments, the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d are separated from the target material 203 by the hard mask portions 205 a and 205 b.

Next, the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b, the hard mask portions 205 a, 205 b, and the target material 203 are etched using the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d as a mask, as shown in FIG. 2 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S29 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, the etching process is a dry etching process.

More specifically, in some embodiments, the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b are entirely removed, the hard mask structures 205 a 1, 205 a 2, 205 b 1 and 205 b 2 are formed by etching the hard mask portions 205 a, 205 b and the target layer 203′, and the target structures 203 a, 203 b are disposed over the target layer 203′ by etching the target material 203, in accordance with some embodiments. In addition, the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d are slightly etched to form spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′ and 223 d′. It should be noted that the material of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b has a high etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d (i.e., the material of the spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′ and 223 d′) during the etching process.

The material of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b has a first etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d; the material of the hard mask portions 205 a, 205 b has a second etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d; and the material of the target material 203 has a third etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d. In some embodiments, the first etching selectivity, the second etching selectivity and the third etching selectivity are similar to each other.

Since the top surfaces of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b are higher than the top surface of the target material 203 before the etching process, the opening 240 is deeper than the openings 270 after the etching process, in accordance with some embodiments. As a result, the spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′ and 223 d′ may be prevented from collapsing due to the support provided by the underlying target structures 203 a and 203 b, which are U-shaped structures protruding from the target layer 203′.

Moreover, because the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b, the hard mask portions 205 a, 205 b, and the target material 203 have high etching selectivities against the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c, 223 d in the etching process for forming the spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′, 223 d′, the spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′, 223 d′ may be prevented from collapsing.

FIGS. 14, 15, 16 and 3 are cross-sectional views illustrating sequential intermediate stages in the formation of the semiconductor device structure 200 b. The semiconductor device structure 200 b is similar to, or the same as, the semiconductor device structure 200 a, except that the hard mask structures 205 a 1, 205 a 2, 205 b 1 and 205 b 2 are not formed between the spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′, 223 d′ and the target structures 203 a, 203 b.

As shown in FIG. 14, the target material 203 is disposed over the semiconductor substrate 201, and the hard mask pillars 207 a and 207 b are disposed over the target material 203 by an etching process using the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b as a mask, in accordance with some embodiments. The respective step is illustrated as the steps S21, S23 and S25 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, compared with the structure of FIG. 11, the target material 203 of FIG. 14 is not covered by the hard mask layer 205. More specifically, the hard mask layer 205 is not formed in the structure of FIG. 14, and the target material 203 is exposed by the openings 210, in accordance with some embodiments.

Next, the photoresist patterns 209 a and 209 b are removed, and the spacer material 213 is conformally deposited over the top surfaces and the sidewall surfaces of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b and the top surface of the target material 203, such that reduced openings 220 are obtained, as shown in FIG. 15 in accordance with some embodiments.

The spacer material 213 is etched to form spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d over sidewall surfaces of the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b, as shown in FIG. 16 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S27 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6. In some embodiments, compared with the structure of FIG. 13, the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d of FIG. 16 are in direct contact with the target material 203.

Next, the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b and the target material 203 are etched using the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d as a mask, and the spacers 223 a, 223 b, 223 c and 223 d are slightly etched to form spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′ and 223 d′, as shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S29 in the method 20 shown in FIG. 6.

More specifically, in some embodiments, the hard mask pillars 207 a, 207 b are entirely removed, and the target layer 203′ and the target structures 203 a, 203 b over the target layer 203′ are formed by etching the target material 203, in accordance with some embodiments. As mentioned above, compared with the semiconductor device structure 200 a, the spacer elements 223 a′, 223 b′, 223 c′ and 223 d′ of the semiconductor device structure 200 b are in direct contact with the target structures 203 a and 203 b, in accordance with some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 30 of forming the semiconductor device structure 300, wherein the method 30 includes steps S31, S33, S35, S37 and S39, in accordance with some embodiments. The steps S31 to S39 of FIG. 7 are elaborated in connection with FIGS. 17, 18, 19, 20 and 4, which are cross-sectional views illustrating sequential intermediate stages in the formation of the semiconductor device structure 300, in accordance with some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 17, the semiconductor substrate 301 is provided, and a target material 303 is disposed over the semiconductor substrate 301. The details of the semiconductor substrate 301 and the target material 303 may be similar to or the same as the details of the semiconductor substrate 201 and the target material 203, and descriptions thereof are not repeated herein. The respective step is illustrated as the step S31 in the method 30 shown in FIG. 7.

Still referring to FIG. 17, energy removable patterns 305 are disposed over the target material 303, in accordance with some embodiments. The respective step is illustrated as the step S33 in the method 30 shown in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, the energy removable patterns 305 include a thermal decomposable material. In some other embodiments, the energy removable patterns 305 include a photonic decomposable material, an e-beam decomposable material, or another applicable energy decomposable material. Specifically, in some embodiments, the energy removable patterns 305 include a base material and a decomposable porogen material that is substantially removed upon exposure to an energy source (e.g., heat).

In some embodiments, the base material includes hydrogen silsesquioxane (HSQ), methylsilsesquioxane (MSQ), porous polyarylether (PAE), porous SiLK, or porous silicon oxide (SiO₂), and the decomposable porogen material includes a porogen organic compound, which can, in the subsequent processes, provide porosity to the space originally occupied by the energy removable patterns 305.

In some embodiments, the energy removable patterns 305 are formed by a deposition process and a patterning process. The deposition process may be CVD, PVD, ALD, spin coating, or another suitable process, and the patterning process for forming the energy removable patterns 305 may include a photolithography process and an etching process. The photolithography process may include photoresist coating (e.g., spin coating), soft baking, mask aligning, exposure, post-exposure baking, developing the photoresist, rinsing and drying (e.g., hard baking). The etching process may include a dry etching process or a wet etching process.

In some embodiments, the target material 203 includes a thermal decomposable material, a photonic decomposable material, an e-beam decomposable material, or another applicable energy decomposable material. It should be noted that the target material 203 and the energy removable patterns 305 include the same material, or the similar material, in accordance with some embodiments.

After the energy removable patterns 305 are formed, a spacer material 307 is conformally deposited over the top surfaces and the sidewall surfaces of the energy removable patterns 305 and the top surface of the target material 303, as shown in FIG. 18 in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the spacer material 307 is made of silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, another suitable material, or a combination thereof, and the deposition process for forming the spacer material 307 includes CVD, PVD, ALD, spin coating, or another suitable process. In some embodiments, the material of the spacer material 307 is different from the material of the energy removable patterns 305. It should be noted that the material of the energy removable patterns 305 has a high etching selectivity against the material of the spacer material 307.

Next, the spacer material 307 is etched to form spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d over sidewall surfaces of the energy removable patterns 305, as shown in FIG. 19 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S35 in the method 30 shown in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, the etching process is an anisotropic etching process, which removes the same amount of the spacer material 307 vertically in all places, leaving the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d over the sidewall surfaces of the energy removable patterns 305. In some embodiments, the etching process is a dry etching process.

After the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d are formed, a dielectric layer 309 is formed surrounding the energy removable patterns 305 and the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d, as shown in FIG. 20 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S37 in the method 30 shown in FIG. 7.

In some embodiments, the dielectric layer 309 includes silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride, one or more suitable dielectric materials, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the material of the dielectric layer 309 is different from the material of the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d. It should be noted that the material of the dielectric layer 309 has a high etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d.

In some embodiments, the dielectric layer 309 includes a thermal decomposable material, a photonic decomposable material, an e-beam decomposable material, or another applicable energy decomposable material. It should be noted that the dielectric layer 309 and the energy removable patterns 305 include the same material, or the similar material, in accordance with some embodiments.

In some embodiments, the dielectric layer 309 is formed by a deposition process and a subsequent planarization process. The deposition process may be CVD, PVD, ALD, spin coating, or another applicable process, and the planarization process may be a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) process.

Next, the energy removable patterns 305, the dielectric layer 309 and the target material 303 are etched using the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d as a mask, as shown in FIG. 4 in accordance with some embodiments. The respective steps are illustrated as the step S39 in the method 30 shown in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, the etching process is a dry etching process.

More specifically, in some embodiments, the energy removable patterns 305 are entirely removed, and the target structures 303 a, 303 b, 303 c and 303 d are formed by etching through the target material 303, in accordance with some embodiments. In addition, the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d are slightly etched to form spacer elements 307 a′, 307 b′, 307 c′ and 307 d′. It should be noted that the material of the energy removable patterns 305 has a high etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c and 307 d (i.e., the material of the spacer elements 307 a′, 307 b′, 307 c′ and 307 d′) during the etching process.

The material of the energy removable patterns 305 has a first etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c, 307 d, the material of the dielectric layer 309 has a second etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c, 307 d, and the material of the target material 303 has a third etching selectivity against the material of the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c, 307 d. In some embodiments, the first etching selectivity, the second etching selectivity and the third etching selectivity are similar to each other.

Since the energy removable patterns 305, the dielectric layer 309 and the target material 303 have high etching selectivities against the spacers 307 a, 307 b, 307 c. 307 d in the etching process for forming the spacer elements 307 a′, 307 b′, 307 c′, 307 d′, the etching process may be performed all the way down to the top surface 301T of the semiconductor substrate 301 while avoiding the collapse of the spacer elements 307 a′, 307 b′, 307 c′ and 307 d′.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first inner spacer element disposed over a top surface of a semiconductor substrate. The first inner spacer element includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion. A height of the first portion and a height of the second portion are less than a height of the third portion, and a width of the first portion increases continuously as the first portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first outer spacer element disposed over the second portion of the first inner spacer element.

In some embodiments, the first portion of the first inner spacer element includes a first side adjoining a lower portion of a first sidewall surface of the third portion, a second side adjoining the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an exterior surface connected to the first side and the second side. The exterior surface has a convex shape. In some embodiments, the first outer spacer element adjoins a second sidewall surface of the third portion, and the first outer spacer element is separated from the top surface of the semiconductor substrate by the second portion. In some embodiments, the first inner spacer element is a stress-extension film, and the first outer spacer element is a stress-compression film. In some embodiments, the first inner spacer element is a stress-compression film, and the first outer spacer element is a stress-extension film. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a second inner spacer element and a second outer spacer element. The second inner spacer element is disposed over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the second inner spacer element includes a fourth portion, a fifth portion, and a sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion. A width of the fourth portion increases continuously as the fourth portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the fourth portion is between the sixth portion and the first portion of the first inner spacer element. The second outer spacer element is disposed over the fifth portion of the second inner spacer element. In some embodiments, the fourth portion of the second inner spacer element is separated from the first portion of the first inner spacer element.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a target layer disposed over a semiconductor substrate, and a first target structure disposed over the target layer. The first target structure incudes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion connected to the first portion and the second portion. A height of the first portion and a height of the second portion are greater than a height of the third portion. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first spacer element disposed over the first portion of the first target structure, and a second spacer element disposed over the second portion of the first target structure.

In some embodiments, the first target structure and the target layer are made of the same material, and the first spacer element and the second spacer element are made of the same material. In some embodiments, a topmost point of the first spacer element is between a central line of the first portion and a central line of the second portion in a cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, a topmost point of the second spacer element is between the central line of the first portion and the central line of the second portion in the cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a second target structure, a third spacer element, and a fourth spacer element. The second target structure is disposed over the target layer. The second target structure includes a fourth portion, a fifth portion, and a sixth portion connected to the fourth portion and the fifth portion, and the fourth portion, the fifth portion and the sixth portion form a U-shaped structure. The third spacer element is disposed over the fourth portion of the second target structure, and the fourth spacer element is disposed over the fifth portion of the second target structure. In some embodiments, the third spacer element is between the second spacer element and the fourth spacer element, and a topmost point of the third spacer element is between a central line of the fourth portion and a central line of the fifth portion in a cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, a first opening between the second spacer element and the third spacer element is deeper than a second opening between the first spacer element and the second spacer element. In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a hard mask structure formed between the first spacer element and the first portion of the first target structure, and the hard mask structure has a high etching selectivity against the first spacer element.

In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a semiconductor device structure is provided. The semiconductor device structure includes a first target structure and a second target structure disposed over a semiconductor substrate. The semiconductor device structure also includes a first spacer element disposed over the first target structure, wherein a topmost point of the first spacer element is between a central line of the first target structure and a central line of the second target structure in a cross-sectional view.

In some embodiments, the semiconductor device structure further includes a second spacer element disposed over the second target structure, wherein a topmost point of the second spacer element is between the central line of the first target structure and the central line of the second target structure in the cross-sectional view. In some embodiments, the first target structure has a high etching selectivity against the first spacer element. In some embodiments, the first target structure and the second target structure are made of a thermal decomposable material, a photonic decomposable material, or an e-beam decomposable material. In some embodiments, a top surface of the semiconductor substrate is exposed between the first target structure and the second target structure.

Embodiments of a semiconductor device structure and methods for forming the same are provided. The method for forming the semiconductor device structure may include undercutting a photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate, and forming an inner spacer element over a sidewall surface of the photoresist pattern. The inner spacer element has a portion extending into a recess (i.e., the undercut region) of the photoresist pattern to form a footing, and a width of the portion of the inner spacer element increases continuously as the portion extends toward the semiconductor substrate. As a result, the inner spacer element may be prevented from collapsing after removal of the photoresist pattern.

Although the present disclosure and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example, many of the processes discussed above can be implemented in different methodologies and replaced by other processes, or a combination thereof.

Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the present disclosure, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein, may be utilized according to the present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, and steps. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device structure, comprising: a first inner spacer element disposed over a top surface of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first inner spacer element comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion, a height of the first portion and a height of the second portion are less than a height of the third portion, and a width of the first portion increases continuously as the first portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a first outer spacer element disposed over the second portion of the first inner spacer element; wherein the first portion of the first inner spacer element comprises a first side adjoining a lower portion of a first sidewall surface of the third portion, a second side adjoining the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and an exterior surface connected to the first side and the second side, wherein the exterior surface has a convex shape.
 2. The semiconductor device structure of claim 1, wherein the first outer spacer element adjoins a second sidewall surface of the third portion, and the first outer spacer element is separated from the top surface of the semiconductor substrate by the second portion.
 3. The semiconductor device structure of claim 1, wherein the first inner spacer element is a stress-extension film, and the first outer spacer element is a stress-compression film.
 4. The semiconductor device structure of claim 1, wherein the first inner spacer element is a stress-compression film, and the first outer spacer element is a stress-extension film.
 5. The semiconductor device structure of claim 1, further comprising: a second inner spacer element disposed over the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second inner spacer element comprises a fourth portion, a fifth portion, and a sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion, a width of the fourth portion increases continuously as the fourth portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the fourth portion is between the sixth portion and the first portion of the first inner spacer element; and a second outer spacer element disposed over the fifth portion of the second inner spacer element.
 6. The semiconductor device structure of claim 5, wherein the fourth portion of the second inner spacer element is separated from the first portion of the first inner spacer element.
 7. The semiconductor device structure of claim 5, wherein the first inner spacer element and the second inner spacer element are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first inner spacer element and the second inner spacer element.
 8. The semiconductor device structure of claim 5, wherein the first outer spacer element and the second outer spacer element are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first outer spacer element and the second outer spacer element.
 9. The semiconductor device structure of claim 5, wherein the first portion and the second portion are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first portion and the second portion.
 10. A method for preparing a semiconductor device structure, comprising: forming a photoresist pattern over a semiconductor substrate; performing an etching process to form an undercutting portion of the photoresist pattern; and forming an inner spacer element over a sidewall surface of the photoresist pattern, wherein the inner spacer element has a footing portion extending into the undercut portion of the photoresist pattern, and a width of the footing portion of the inner spacer element increases continuously as the footing portion extends toward the semiconductor substrate.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the etching process is a wet etching process forming the undercut portion within a lower portion of the photoresist pattern.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first inner spacer element further comprises a second portion and a third portion between the footing portion and the second portion, a height of the footing portion and a height of the second portion are less than a height of the third portion.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: forming a first outer spacer element over the second portion of the first inner spacer element.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first inner spacer element and the second inner spacer element are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first inner spacer element and the second inner spacer element.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first outer spacer element adjoins a second sidewall surface of the third portion, and the first outer spacer element is separated from the top surface of the semiconductor substrate by the second portion.
 16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: forming a second inner spacer element over the semiconductor substrate, wherein the second inner spacer element comprises a fourth portion, a fifth portion, and a sixth portion between the fourth portion and the fifth portion, a width of the fourth portion increases continuously as the fourth portion extends toward the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, and the fourth portion is between the sixth portion and the first portion of the first inner spacer element; and forming a second outer spacer element over the fifth portion of the second inner spacer element.
 17. The semiconductor device structure of claim 16, wherein the fourth portion of the second inner spacer element is separated from the first portion of the first inner spacer element.
 18. The semiconductor device structure of claim 16, wherein the first outer spacer element and the second outer spacer element are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first outer spacer element and the second outer spacer element.
 19. The semiconductor device structure of claim 16, wherein the first inner spacer element and the second inner spacer element are substantially symmetric with respect to a middle line between the first inner spacer element and the second inner spacer element. 